Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Parasite Dynamics In Untreated Horses Through One Calendar Year, Ashley E. Steuer, Haley P. Anderson, Taylor Shepherd, Morgan Clark, Jessica A. Scare, Holli S. Gravatte, Martin K. Nielsen

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Horses are host to a plethora of parasites. Knowledge of the seasonality of parasite egg shedding and transmission is important for constructing parasite control programs. However, studies describing these patterns are sparse, and have largely been conducted only in the United Kingdom. This study evaluated strongylid egg shedding patterns and transmission dynamics of Strongylus vulgaris in naturally infected and untreated mares and foals through one calendar year in Kentucky, USA. The study also investigated the existence of a peri-parturient rise (PPR) in strongylid egg counts in foaling mares and collected information about Strongyloides westeri and Parascaris spp. in the …

Equine Arteritis Virus Long-Term Persistence Is Orchestrated By Cd8+ T Lymphocyte Transcription Factors, Inhibitory Receptors, And The Cxcl16/Cxcr6 Axis, Mariano Carossino, Pouya Dini, Theodore S. Kalbfleisch, Alan T. Loynachan, Igor F. Canisso, R. Frank Cook, Peter J. Timoney, Udeni B. R. Balasuriya

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Equine arteritis virus (EAV) has the unique ability to establish long-term persistent infection in the reproductive tract of stallions and be sexually transmitted. Previous studies showed that long-term persistent infection is associated with a specific allele of the CXCL16 gene (CXCL16S) and that persistence is maintained despite the presence of local inflammatory and humoral and mucosal antibody responses. Here, we performed transcriptomic analysis of the ampullae, the primary site of EAV persistence in long-term EAV carrier stallions, to understand the molecular signatures of viral persistence. We demonstrated that the local CD8⁺ T lymphocyte response is predominantly orchestrated …

Development And Evaluation Of A One-Step Multiplex Real-Time Taqman® Rt-Qpcr Assay For The Detection And Genotyping Of Equine G3 And G14 Rotaviruses In Fecal Samples, Mariano Carossino, Maria E. Barrandeguy, Erdal Erol, Yanqiu Li, Udeni B. R. Balasuriya

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Background: Equine rotavirus A (ERVA) is the leading cause of diarrhea in neonatal foals and has a negative impact on equine breeding enterprises worldwide. Among ERVA strains infecting foals, the genotypes G3P[12] and G14P[12] are the most prevalent, while infections by strains with other genomic arrangements are infrequent. The identification of circulating strains of ERVA is critical for diagnostic and surveillance purposes, as well as to understand their molecular epidemiology. Current genotyping methods available for ERVA and rotaviruses affecting other animal species rely on Sanger sequencing and are significantly time-consuming, costly and labor intensive. Here, we developed the first one-step …

Horse Y Chromosome Assembly Displays Unique Evolutionary Features And Putative Stallion Fertility Genes, Jan E. Janečka, Brian W. Davis, Sharmila Ghosh, Nandina Paria, Pranab J. Das, Ludovic Orlando, Mikkel Schubert, Martin K. Nielsen, Tom A. E. Stout, Wesley Brashear, Gang Li, Charles D. Johnson, Richard P. Metz, Al Muatasim Al Zadjali, Charles C. Love, Dickson D. Varner, Daniel W. Bellott, William J. Murphy, Bhanu P. Chowdhary, Terje Raudsepp

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Dynamic evolutionary processes and complex structure make the Y chromosome among the most diverse and least understood regions in mammalian genomes. Here, we present an annotated assembly of the male specific region of the horse Y chromosome (eMSY), representing the first comprehensive Y assembly in odd-toed ungulates. The eMSY comprises single-copy, equine specific multi-copy, PAR transposed, and novel ampliconic sequence classes. The eMSY gene density approaches that of autosomes with the highest number of retained X–Y gametologs recorded in eutherians, in addition to novel Y-born and transposed genes. Horse, donkey and mule testis RNAseq reveals several candidate genes for stallion …

In Vivo And In Vitro Studies Of Cry5b And Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonist Anthelmintics Reveal A Powerful And Unique Combination Therapy Against Intestinal Nematode Parasites, Yan Hu, Melanie Miller, Bo Zhang, Thanh-Thanh Nguyen, Martin K. Nielsen, Raffi V. Aroian

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Background

The soil-transmitted nematodes (STNs) or helminths (hookworms, whipworms, large roundworms) infect the intestines of ~1.5 billion of the poorest peoples and are leading causes of morbidity worldwide. Only one class of anthelmintic or anti-nematode drugs, the benzimidazoles, is currently used in mass drug administrations, which is a dangerous situation. New anti-nematode drugs are urgently needed. Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein Cry5B is a powerful, promising new candidate. Drug combinations, when properly made, are ideal for treating infectious diseases. Although there are some clinical trials using drug combinations against STNs, little quantitative and systemic work has been performed to define the …

An Epidemiologic Study Of Antimicrobial Resistance Of Staphylococcus Species Isolated From Equine Samples Submitted To A Diagnostic Laboratory, Ronita Adams, Jackie Smith, Stephan Locke, Erica Phillips, Erdal Erol, Craig N. Carter, Agricola Odoi

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Background

Antimicrobial resistance limits traditional treatment options and increases costs. It is therefore important to estimate the magnitude of the problem so as to provide empirical data to guide control efforts. The aim of this study was to investigate the burden and patterns of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among equine Staphylococcus samples submitted to the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UKVDL) from 1993 to 2009. Retrospective data of 1711 equine Staphylococcus samples submitted to the UKVDL during the time period 1993 to 2009 were included in the study. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, that included 16 drugs, were performed using cultures followed …

A Serosurvey Of Selected Cystogenic Coccidia In Spanish Equids: First Detection Of Anti-Besnoitia Spp. Specific Antibodies In Europe, Daniel Gutiérrez-Expósito, Ignacio García-Bocanegra, Daniel K. Howe, Antonio Arenas-Montes, Michelle R. Yeargan, Sallyanne L. Ness, Luis M Ortega-Mora, G. Álvarez-García

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Background: Equine besnoitiosis, caused by Besnoitia bennetti, and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), caused by Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi are relevant equine diseases in the Americas that have been scarcely studied in Europe. Thus, a serosurvey of these cystogenic coccidia was carried out in Southern Spain. A cross-sectional study was performed and serum samples from horses (n = 553), donkeys (n = 85) and mules (n = 83) were included. An in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to identify a Besnoitia spp. infection and positive results were confirmed by an a posteriori western blot. For Neospora …

Evaluation Of Circulating Mirnas During Late Pregnancy In The Mare, Shavahn C. Loux, Kirsten E. Scoggin, Jason E. Bruemmer, Igor F. Canisso, Mats H. T. Troedsson, Edward L. Squires, Barry A. Ball

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs which are produced throughout the body. Individual tissues tend to have a specific expression profile and excrete many of these miRNAs into circulation. These circulating miRNAs may be diagnostically valuable biomarkers for assessing the presence of disease while minimizing invasive testing. In women, numerous circulating miRNAs have been identified which change significantly during pregnancy-related complications (e.g. chorioamnionitis, eclampsia, recurrent pregnancy loss); however, no prior work has been done in this area in the horse. To identify pregnancy-specific miRNAs, we collected serial whole blood samples in pregnant mares at 8, 9, 10 m of gestation …

Detection Of Strongylus Vulgaris In Equine Faecal Samples By Real-Time Pcr And Larval Culture – Method Comparison And Occurrence Assessment, A. Kaspar, K. Pfister, Martin K. Nielsen, C. Silaghi, H. Fink, M. C. Scheuerle

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Background: Strongylus vulgaris has become a rare parasite in Germany during the past 50 years due to the practice of frequent prophylactic anthelmintic therapy. To date, the emerging development of resistance in Cyathostominae and Parascaris spp. to numerous equine anthelmintics has changed deworming management and the frequency of anthelmintic usage. In this regard, reliable detection of parasitic infections, especially of the highly pathogenic S. vulgaris is essential. In the current study, two diagnostic methods for the detection of infections with S. vulgaris were compared and information on the occurrence of this parasite in German horses was gained. For this purpose, …

Equine Arteritis Virus Uses Equine Cxcl16 As An Entry Receptor, Sanjay Sarkar, Lakshman Chelvarajan, Yun Young Go, Frank Cook, Sergey Artiushin, Shankar Mondal, Kelsi Anderson, John E. Eberth, Peter J. Timoney, Theodore S. Kalbfleisch, Ernest F. Bailey, Udeni B. R. Balasuriya

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Previous studies in our laboratory have identified equine CXCL16 (EqCXCL16) to be a candidate molecule and possible cell entry receptor for equine arteritis virus (EAV). In horses, the CXCL16 gene is located on equine chromosome 11 (ECA11) and encodes a glycosylated, type I transmembrane protein with 247 amino acids. Stable transfection of HEK-293T cells with plasmid DNA carrying EqCXCL16 (HEK-EqCXCL16 cells) increased the proportion of the cell population permissive to EAV infection from < 3% to almost 100%. The increase in permissiveness was blocked either by transfection of HEK-EqCXCL16 cells with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) directed against EqCXCL16 or by pretreatment with guinea pig polyclonal antibody against EqCXCL16 protein (Gp anti-EqCXCL16 pAb). Furthermore, using a virus overlay protein-binding assay (VOPBA) in combination with far-Western blotting, gradient-purified EAV particles were shown to bind directly to the EqCXCL16 protein in vitro. The binding of biotinylated virulent EAV strain Bucyrus at 4°C was significantly higher in HEK-EqCXCL16 cells than nontransfected HEK-293T cells. Finally, the results demonstrated …

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis: An Updated Consensus Statement With A Focus On Parasite Biology, Diagnosis, Treatment, And Prevention, S. M. Reed, M. Furr, Daniel K. Howe, A. L. Johnson, R. J. Mackay, J. K. Morrow, N. Pusterla, S. Witonsky

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) remains an important neurologic disease of horses. There are no pathognomonic clinical signs for the disease. Affected horses can have focal or multifocal central nervous system (CNS) disease. EPM can be difficult to diagnose antemortem. It is caused by either of 2 parasites, Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi, with much less known about N. hughesi. Although risk factors such as transport stress and breed and age correlations have been identified, biologic factors such as genetic predispositions of individual animals, and parasite-specific factors such as strain differences in virulence, remain largely undetermined. This consensus statement …

The Distribution Pattern Of Halicephalobus Gingivalis In A Horse Is Suggestive Of A Haematogenous Spread Of The Nematode, Christina Henneke, Anna Jespersen, Stine Jacobsen, Martin K. Nielsen, Fintan Mcevoy, Henrik E. Jensen

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

The majority of Halicephalobus gingivalis-infections in horses have been fatal and are usually not diagnosed before necropsy. Therefore, knowledge about the nematode and the pathogenesis of infection in horses is limited. This has resulted in an on-going discussion about the port of entry and subsequent dissemination of H. gingivalis within the host. The present case of H. gingivalis-infection in a horse was diagnosed ante mortem. Post mortem findings, the distribution pattern of H. gingivalis nematodes in the brain, a high prevalence of inflammation in close relation to blood vessels, and the presence of the nematode in multiple organs …

Svsxp: A Strongylus Vulgaris Antigen With Potential For Prepatent Diagnosis, Ulla V. Andersen, Daniel K. Howe, Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam, Nils Toft, Craig R. Reinemeyer, Eugene T. Lyons, Susanne N. Olsen, Jesper Monrad, Peter Nejsum, Martin K. Nielsen

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Strongyle parasites are ubiquitous in grazing horses. Strongylus vulgaris, the most pathogenic of the large strongyles, is known for its extensive migration in the mesenteric arterial system. The lifecycle of S. vulgaris is characterised by a long prepatent period where the migrating larvae are virtually undetectable as there currently is no test available for diagnosing prepatent S. vulgaris infection. Presence of S. vulgaris larvae in the arterial system causes endarteritis and thrombosis with a risk of non-strangulating intestinal infarctions. Emergence of anthelmintic resistance among cyathostomins has led to recommendations of reduced treatment intensity by targeting horses that exceed a …

Genetic Diversity In The Modern Horse Illustrated From Genome-Wide Snp Data, Jessica L. Petersen, James R. Mickelson, E. Gus Cothran, Lisa S. Andersson, Jeanette Axelsson, Ernie Bailey, Danika Bannasch, Matthew M. Binns, Alexandre S. Borges, Pieter Brama, Artur Da Câmara Machado, Ottmar Distl, Michela Felicetti, Laura Fox-Clipsham, Kathryn T. Graves, Gérard Guérin, Bianca Haase, Telhisa Hasegawa, Karin Hemmann, Emmeline W. Hill, Tosso Leeb, Gabriella Lindgren, Hannes Lohi, Maria Susana Lopes, Beatrice A. Mcgivney, Sofia Mikko, Nicholas Orr, M. Cecilia T. Penedo, Richard J. Piercy, Marja Raekallio, Stefan Rieder, Knut H. Røed, Maurizio Silvestrelli, June Swinburne, Teruaki Tozaki, Mark Vaudin, Claire M. Wade, Molly E. Mccue

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Horses were domesticated from the Eurasian steppes 5,000-6,000 years ago. Since then, the use of horses for transportation, warfare, and agriculture, as well as selection for desired traits and fitness, has resulted in diverse populations distributed across the world, many of which have become or are in the process of becoming formally organized into closed, breeding populations (breeds). This report describes the use of a genome-wide set of autosomal SNPs and 814 horses from 36 breeds to provide the first detailed description of equine breed diversity. F(ST) calculations, parsimony, and distance analysis demonstrated relationships among the breeds that largely reflect …

Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals Selection For Important Traits In Domestic Horse Breeds, Jessica L. Petersen, James R. Mickelson, Aaron K. Rendahl, Stephanie J. Valberg, Lisa S. Andersson, Jeanette Axelsson, Ernie Bailey, Danika Bannasch, Matthew M. Binns, Alexandre S. Borges, Pieter Brama, Artur Da Câmara Machado, Stefano Capomaccio, Katia Cappelli, E. Gus Cothran, Ottmar Distl, Laura Fox-Clipsham, Kathryn T. Graves, Gérard Guérin, Bianca Haase, Telhisa Hasegawa, Karin Hemmann, Emmeline W. Hill, Tosso Leeb, Gabriella Lindgren, Hannes Lohi, Maria Susana Lopes, Beatrice A. Mcgivney, Sofia Mikko, Nicholas Orr, M. Cecilia T. Penedo, Richard J. Piercy, Marja Raekallio, Stefan Rieder, Knut H Røed, June Swinburne, Teruaki Tozaki, Mark Vaudin, Claire M. Wade, Molly E. Mccue

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Intense selective pressures applied over short evolutionary time have resulted in homogeneity within, but substantial variation among, horse breeds. Utilizing this population structure, 744 individuals from 33 breeds, and a 54,000 SNP genotyping array, breed-specific targets of selection were identified using an F(ST)-based statistic calculated in 500-kb windows across the genome. A 5.5-Mb region of ECA18, in which the myostatin (MSTN) gene was centered, contained the highest signature of selection in both the Paint and Quarter Horse. Gene sequencing and histological analysis of gluteal muscle biopsies showed a promoter variant and intronic SNP of MSTN were each significantly associated with …

Development Of One-Step Taqman® Real-Time Reverse Transcription-Pcr And Conventional Reverse Transcription-Pcr Assays For The Detection Of Equine Rhinitis A And B Viruses, Zhengchun Lu, Peter J. Timoney, Jena White, Udeni B R Balasuriya

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Equine rhinitis viruses A and B (ERAV and ERBV) are common equine respiratory viruses belonging to the family Picornaviridae. Sero-surveillance studies have shown that these two viral infections are prevalent in many countries. Currently, the diagnosis of ERAV and ERBV infections in horses is mainly based on virus isolation (VI). However, the sensitivity of VI testing varies between laboratories due to inefficient viral growth in cell culture and lack of cytopathic effect. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop molecular diagnostic assays (real-time RT-PCR [rRT-PCR] and conventional RT-PCR [cRT-PCR] assays) to detect and distinguish ERAV from ERBV …

Inflammatory Responses To Induced Infectious Endometritis In Mares Resistant Or Susceptible To Persistent Endometritis, Mette Christoffersen, Elizabeth Woodward, Anders M. Bojesen, Stine Jacobsen, Morten R. Petersen, Mats H. T. Troedsson, Henrik Lehn-Jensen

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to evaluate the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, IL-1 receptor antagonist [ra] and serum amyloid A (SAA) in endometrial tissue and circulating leukocytes in response to uterine inoculation of 105 colony forming units (CFU) Escherichia coli in mares. Before inoculation, mares were classified as resistant or susceptible to persistent endometritis based on their uterine inflammatory response to infusion of 109 killed spermatozoa and histological assessment of the endometrial quality. Endometrial biopsies were obtained 3, 12, 24 and 72 hours (h) after bacterial inoculation and …

A High Density Snp Array For The Domestic Horse And Extant Perissodactyla: Utility For Association Mapping, Genetic Diversity, And Phylogeny Studies, Molly E. Mccue, Danika L. Bannasch, Jessica L. Petersen, Jessica Gurr, Ernie Bailey, Matthew M. Binns, Ottmar Distl, Gérard Guérin, Telhisa Hasegawa, Emmeline W. Hill, Tosso Leeb, Gabriella Lindgren, M Cecilia T. Penedo, Knut H. Røed, Oliver A. Ryder, June E. Swinburne, Teruaki Tozaki, Stephanie J. Valberg, Mark Vaudin, Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Claire M. Wade, James R. Mickelson

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

An equine SNP genotyping array was developed and evaluated on a panel of samples representing 14 domestic horse breeds and 18 evolutionarily related species. More than 54,000 polymorphic SNPs provided an average inter-SNP spacing of ∼43 kb. The mean minor allele frequency across domestic horse breeds was 0.23, and the number of polymorphic SNPs within breeds ranged from 43,287 to 52,085. Genome-wide linkage disequilibrium (LD) in most breeds declined rapidly over the first 50-100 kb and reached background levels within 1-2 Mb. The extent of LD and the level of inbreeding were highest in the Thoroughbred and lowest in the …

Whole-Genome Snp Association In The Horse: Identification Of A Deletion In Myosin Va Responsible For Lavender Foal Syndrome, Samantha A. Brooks, Nicole Gabreski, Donald Miller, Abra Brisbin, Helen E. Brown, Cassandra Streeter, Jason Mezey, Deborah Cook, Douglas F. Antczak

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) is a lethal inherited disease of horses with a suspected autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. LFS has been primarily diagnosed in a subgroup of the Arabian breed, the Egyptian Arabian horse. The condition is characterized by multiple neurological abnormalities and a dilute coat color. Candidate genes based on comparative phenotypes in mice and humans include the ras-associated protein RAB27a (RAB27A) and myosin Va (MYO5A). Here we report mapping of the locus responsible for LFS using a small set of 36 horses segregating for LFS. These horses were genotyped using a newly available single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) …

Transcriptional Adaptations Following Exercise In Thoroughbred Horse Skeletal Muscle Highlights Molecular Mechanisms That Lead To Muscle Hypertrophy, Beatrice A. Mcgivney, Suzanne S. Eivers, David E. Machugh, James N. Macleod, Grace M. O'Gorman, Stephen D.E. Park, Lisa M. Katz, Emmeline W. Hill

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Selection for exercise-adapted phenotypes in the Thoroughbred racehorse has provided a valuable model system to understand molecular responses to exercise in skeletal muscle. Exercise stimulates immediate early molecular responses as well as delayed responses during recovery, resulting in a return to homeostasis and enabling long term adaptation. Global mRNA expression during the immediate-response period has not previously been reported in skeletal muscle following exercise in any species. Also, global gene expression changes in equine skeletal muscle following exercise have not been reported. Therefore, to identify novel genes and key regulatory pathways responsible for exercise adaptation we have used equine-specific …

An Eiav Field Isolate Reveals Much Higher Levels Of Subtype Variability Than Currently Reported For The Equine Lentivirus Family, Jodi K. Craigo, Shannon Barnes, Baoshan Zhang, Sheila J. Cook, Laryssa Howe, Charles J. Issel, Ronald C. Montelaro

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a lentivirus that infects horses, has been utilized as an animal model for the study of HIV. Furthermore, the disease associated with the equine lentivirus poses a significant challenge to veterinary medicine around the world. As with all lentiviruses, EIAV has been shown to have a high propensity for genomic sequence and antigenic variation, especially in its envelope (Env) proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated Env variation to be a major determinant of vaccine efficacy, emphasizing the importance of defining natural variation among field isolates of EIAV. To date, however, published EIAV sequences have been …

Differential Gene Expression Associated With Postnatal Equine Articular Cartilage Maturation, Michael J. Mienaltowski, Liping Huang, Arnold J. Stromberg, James N. Macleod

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Articular cartilage undergoes an important maturation process from neonate to adult that is reflected by alterations in matrix protein organization and increased heterogeneity of chondrocyte morphology. In the horse, these changes are influenced by exercise during the first five months of postnatal life. Transcriptional profiling was used to evaluate changes in articular chondrocyte gene expression during postnatal growth and development.

METHODS: Total RNA was isolated from the articular cartilage of neonatal (0-10 days) and adult (4-5 years) horses, subjected to one round of linear RNA amplification, and then applied to a 9,367-element equine-specific cDNA microarray. Comparisons were made with …

Missense Mutation In Exon 2 Of Slc36a1 Responsible For Champagne Dilution In Horses, Deborah Cook, Samantha Brooks, Rebecca Bellone, Ernest Bailey

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Champagne coat color in horses is controlled by a single, autosomal-dominant gene (CH). The phenotype produced by this gene is valued by many horse breeders, but can be difficult to distinguish from the effect produced by the Cream coat color dilution gene (CR). Three sires and their families segregating for CH were tested by genome scanning with microsatellite markers. The CH gene was mapped within a 6 cM region on horse chromosome 14 (LOD = 11.74 for theta = 0.00). Four candidate genes were identified within the region, namely SPARC [Secreted protein, acidic, cysteine-rich (osteonectin)], SLC36A1 (Solute Carrier 36 family …

A Novel Application Of Quantile Regression For Identification Of Biomarkers Exemplified By Equine Cartilage Microarray Data, Liping Huang, Wenying Zhu, Christopher P. Saunders, James N. Macleod, Mai Zhou, Arnold J. Stromberg, Arne C. Bathke

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Identification of biomarkers among thousands of genes arrayed for disease classification has been the subject of considerable research in recent years. These studies have focused on disease classification, comparing experimental groups of effected to normal patients. Related experiments can be done to identify tissue-restricted biomarkers, genes with a high level of expression in one tissue compared to other tissue types in the body.

RESULTS: In this study, cartilage was compared with ten other body tissues using a two color array experimental design. Thirty-seven probe sets were identified as cartilage biomarkers. Of these, 13 (35%) have existing annotation associated with …

Allelic Heterogeneity At The Equine Kit Locus In Dominant White (W) Horses, Bianca Haase, Samantha A. Brooks, Angela Schlumbaum, Pedro J. Azor, Ernest Bailey, Ferial Alaeddine, Meike Mevissen, Dominik Burger, Pierre-André Poncet, Stefan Rieder, Tosso Leeb

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

White coat color has been a highly valued trait in horses for at least 2,000 years. Dominant white (W) is one of several known depigmentation phenotypes in horses. It shows considerable phenotypic variation, ranging from approximately 50% depigmented areas up to a completely white coat. In the horse, the four depigmentation phenotypes roan, sabino, tobiano, and dominant white were independently mapped to a chromosomal region on ECA 3 harboring the KIT gene. KIT plays an important role in melanoblast survival during embryonic development. We determined the sequence and genomic organization of the approximately 82 kb equine KIT gene. A mutation …

Characterization Of The Equine 2'-5' Oligoadenylate Synthetase 1 (Oas1) And Ribonuclease L (Rnasel) Innate Immunity Genes, Jonathan J. Rios, Andrey A. Perelygin, Maureen T. Long, Teri L. Lear, Andrey A. Zharkikh, Margo A. Brinton, David L. Adelson

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The mammalian OAS/RNASEL pathway plays an important role in antiviral host defense. A premature stop-codon within the murine Oas1b gene results in the increased susceptibility of mice to a number of flaviviruses, including West Nile virus (WNV). Mutations in either the OAS1 or RNASEL genes may also modulate the outcome of WNV-induced disease or other viral infections in horses. Polymorphisms in the human OAS gene cluster have been previously utilized for case-control analysis of virus-induced disease in humans. No polymorphisms have yet been identified in either the equine OAS1 or RNASEL genes for use in similar case-control studies.

RESULTS: …

A Missense Mutation In Pmel17 Is Associated With The Silver Coat Color In The Horse, Emma Brunberg, Leif Andersson, Gus Cothran, Kaj Sandberg, Sofia Mikko, Gabriella Lindgren

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The Silver coat color, also called Silver dapple, in the horse is characterized by dilution of the black pigment in the hair. This phenotype shows an autosomal dominant inheritance. The effect of the mutation is most visible in the long hairs of the mane and tail, which are diluted to a mixture of white and gray hairs. Herein we describe the identification of the responsible gene and a missense mutation associated with the Silver phenotype.

RESULTS: Segregation data on the Silver locus (Z) were obtained within one half-sib family that consisted of a heterozygous Silver colored stallion with 34 …

Comparative Analysis Of Vertebrate Eif2ak2 (Pkr) Genes And Assignment Of The Equine Gene To Eca15q24-Q25 And The Bovine Gene To Bta11q12-Q15, Andrey A. Perelygin, Teri L. Lear, Andrey A. Zharkikh, Margo A Brinton

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

The structures of the canine, rabbit, bovine and equine EIF2AK2 genes were determined. Each of these genes has a 5' non-coding exon as well as 15 coding exons. All of the canine, bovine and equine EIF2AK2 introns have consensus donor and acceptor splice sites. In the equine EIF2AK2 gene, a unique single nucleotide polymorphism that encoded a Tyr329Cys substitution was detected. Regulatory elements predicted in the promoter region were conserved in ungulates, primates, rodents, Afrotheria (elephant) and Insectifora (shrew). Western clawed frog and fugu EIF2AK2 gene sequences were detected in the USCS Genome Browser and compared to those of other …